A two-year delay on new mercury rules benefits coal-fired power plants, while chemical plants got an exemption from stricter air pollution standards.
Niran Babalola
Niran Babalola was a software engineer and technology director at The Texas Tribune, where he worked from 2009 to 2012. Previously he wrote web applications for the Austin American-Statesman. He has also written software at Yahoo and Apple. A native of Sugar Land, he studied computer science at Stanford University.
Posted in
Environment
Feds move to eliminate petrochemical watchdog, putting Texans and others at risk
Amid increasingly intense weather, the Chemical Safety Board is the lone independent agency watching over the Gulf Coast’s petrochemical corridor.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Nearly flown to El Salvador, Venezuelans await an uncertain fate in Texas
Detainees say they’re being held in solitary confinement after family members helped them post about their situation on social media.
Posted in
Energy
Despite Texas’ “aggressive” well-plugging program, there’s still a backlog of orphaned oil and gas wells
No state has punched more holes in its bedrock than the Lone Star State. The environmental risks are staggering, and so are the clean up costs, especially in the Permian Basin.
Posted in
Energy
U.S. oil and gas production is booming. So are the industry’s donations to its GOP allies
The biggest recipient of campaign donations from the industry isn’t Donald Trump or President Joe Biden, it’s a Texas House member who represents part of the Permian Basin.
Posted in
Energy
Valley activists wage transatlantic battle to stop natural gas exports from South Texas
As legal efforts fall short, Rio Grande Valley residents are pursuing a novel strategy to halt export terminals on wetlands: Lobby Europeans to reject gas from the U.S.
Posted in
Energy
Critics say state tax break helps petrochemical companies and hurts public schools
In December, legislators killed a controversial tax abatement program known as Chapter 313, but its effects will last decades.
Posted in
Economy
Updated: 10 Most-Read Stories of 2011: Perry, UT and TSA Groping
With 2011 winding down, we take a look back at the stories our readers liked best, judging by the number of pageviews they received.
Posted in
Economy
Interactive: How Would You Close the State’s Budget Gap?
Solving the state’s 2012-13 budget woes is a hard job and perhaps the best way to show that is to let you decide for yourself how the $27 billion shortfall should be closed. Use our interactive budget shortfall app to see what you’re willing to give up to close the gap.
Posted inState Government
Texas Red-Light Cameras
Explore Texas red-light camera intersections statewide or drill down to individual intersections to see images, crash figures and citation totals.